AAA Makes Truck Safety Top Item

The American Automobile Association said it supports revising hours-of-service rules for truck drivers and the expanded use of the global positioning system for tracking trucks.

The association stated its position April 21 at its annual meeting in San Diego.

American Trucking Associations responded positively to AAA’s support on hours of service but raised questions about the use of GPS.

"We welcome the support of the AAA with regard to revision of the hours-of-service regulations," said Mike Russell, ATA spokesman. "We especially appreciate their insistence on regulations having a sound scientific basis."

However, Russell said "GPS does not monitor fatigue."

"I’d like to believe that we are partners on the highways rather than adversaries," he said. "And hours-of-service reform is a prime example of where we can work together."

Truck safety will be the top agenda item for the American Automobile Association through 2000, Fred Gruel said at the meeting.

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